Fruit-drier



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet,- 1.

W. GREY.

FRUIT DRIBR.

No. 890,959. PatentedOot. 9, 1888.

N. PETERS. PnnxQ-Limngmpher, wnshingwn. n4 c.

(No Model.)

3 Sheets- Sheet 2.

W. GREY.

FRUIT DRIER.

Patented Oct'. 9, 1888.

N PETERS, Pnnm-Lnlwgmphur. wunmgmn, D. C.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. W. GREY.

1 FRUIT DRIBR. 9 No. 390,959. Patented Oct. 9, 1888.

iro

IVILLIAM GREY, OF SAN JOS,

Aralar CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT-BRIEF?.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,959, dated October 9, 1888.

Application filed March E17, 1885.

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GREY, of the city of San Jos, Santa Clara county, State of California, haveinvented an Improvement in Fruit-Driers; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to that class of fruitdriers in which the baskets or fruit-receptacles are suspended from a wheel which rotates within a heated shell; and my invention consists in the constructions and combinations of devices which I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure l is a vertical crosssection ofmy fruitdrier. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a skeleton View in the nature of a diagram, showing the heat fines and passages.

Ais the shell of the drier, made of brickwork.

B is arotary wheel mounted within the shell and having suspended from its periphery the fruit baskets or receptacles T.

Across the central transverse base of the shell is the fire-chamber O, having the ash-pit c. From the fire chamber 0n one side lead out the curved iiues D, following the curvature of the wheel B for about sixty degrees, more or less, where they join a horizontal flue, d, in the side Wall of the shell, which said iiue,after passing along the side wall to one of the end walls, bends around and passes along said end wall to the other side, where it connects with the upwardly-inclined flue E, formed in the said end wall of the shell and opening into a stack, X. In the opposite direction from the firechamber lead the curved fines D', which at their upper ends join a horizontal flue, d', in the other side wall of the shell, which said iiue, after passing along the said wall to the other end wall, bends around and passes along said end wall to the first side, where it connects withthe upwardly-inclined fiueE, formed in the said end wall of the shell, and which opens into a stack, X. The whole upper wall of the curved dues D D is formed of metal plates F, which thus become highly heated. A metal chamber, F', is formed just above the Serial No. 268,666. (No model.)

main iirechamber C, and said chamber hasits side walls perforated, as shown at f.

G are transverse air pipes or passages within the -chamber F. Each passage consists of two pipes,or a single pipe closed in the middle, the ends of the passages opening out on each side of the shell. They are perforated in their lower halves, as shown at g. These pipes eX- tend just above the metal bottom of chamber F', and they discharge their air directly upon said bottom. If desired, similar perforated pipes may be run along above the metal plates F, forming the upper wall of the tlues D D'.

The wheel B is formed wholly of tubular or gas-pipe sections secured together by suitable couplings. In constructing it I have for the center portion the separated hubs b on the axis, into which are screwed the convergent spokes b', to which, by means of couplings b2, are connected the straight spokes b3. For the ends I have the hubs b4, to which are screwed the end spokes, b5. In the ends of spokes b3 and b5 are carried the rods b, to which the basketsT are hung. This construction alords a great degree of strength and durability, together with lightness. The axis B of the wheel consists of a tubular or hollow shaft having its ends open and communicating with the exterior air. Along its length,within the drying chamber,are made openings, to which are fitted tunnels B2. 'The hollow open-ended axis provides for a draft through it from end to end, and this draft serves to suck in, through the funnel-openings B2, the moist hot air from the middle of the drying-chamber and discharge it. To further this object of discharging the moist hot air of the drying-chamber, I have the damper-controlled short tlues H, made in the inner Walls of the shell and communicating with the inclined iiues E E. These short tlues have an upward inclination,so that While the products of combustion passing through flues E E serve to create a draft through said short lines said products of combustion have no tendency to enter the drying chamber.

The Wheel B has a rotary motion imparted to it by means ofthe gear I, worm i, and powershaft i.

The operation of the drier is as follows: Suitable power is applied to rotate the wheel IOC whereby the fruittrays are carried around in the dryinglehamber. The heated gases and products of combustion from the cent-ral crosssection fire-chamber C pass upwardly on each side through the curved ilues D and D', following the curvature ofthe wheel and in close proximity to the fruit-trays, and heating to a high degree in their passage the plates F. They thence pass through the horizontal fiues (Z d and the inclined lines E E in the walls of the shell, giving out additional heat from all surrounding points to the drying-chamber',and are inall y discharged through the stacks X X. rlhe pure air passes into the pipes Gand is discharged through their perforated surfaces directly upon the heated bottom ofthe chamber F. It is thus heated and rarefied, and at the same time the iron is cooled and kept from burning out. The heated and rarelied air rises from the chamber F through the fruit to the top of the drying'chamber.

Having thus described my invention, what I elai n1 as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fruit-drier, the shell and the rotary fruit-carrying wheel Within it, in combination with the transverse iire chamber in the base of the shell, the air-chamber F above it aud having perforated sides, and the perforated open ended air-pipes G, passing through the air-chamber and opening into thcouter air, substantially as herein described.

2. In a fruitdrier, the shell and the rotary, fruitcarrying Wheel Within it, in combination with the central transverse ireehamber in the base of the shell, the curved tire-[lues D D', the horizontal. lues d d, and inclined lines E E in the Walls of the shell, whereby the interior of said shell is heated, and the perforated openended pipes G, whereby air is admitted, substantially as herein described.

3. In a fruit-drier, the shell and the rotary fruit-carrying wheel Within it, in combination with the central transverse tire-chamberin the base of the shell, the fire-Hnos D D', d d', and E E in the walls of the shell, whereby its interior is heated, the perforated air-chamber F above the fire-chamber, and the perforated Open ended pipes fr, passing through the airchamber, whereby the air admitted is heated as it passes iu, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof [have hereunto set my hand.

XV l LLI/XM G HEY.

Vituesses:

G. M. BRUCE, O. lnnnrrm. 

